Strategy and Business Analytics Lead – National Fraud Initiative

The Public Sector Fraud Authority is at the cutting edge of the government's response to tackling fraud against the public sector and builds on the internationally recognised reputation of the Counter Fraud Function as a world-leader in tackling fraud and corruption in the public sector.

Fraud represents a cost to the government which is estimated at £33.2bn - £58.8bn per year. At PSFA, we play an instrumental role in spearheading the Government's response to fraud by developing innovative policies and initiatives to counter this threat with the mission of funnelling real, tangible financial benefits back to the public.

In pursuing this goal, we utilise a network that spans across public and private sectors. Serving as the foremost experts in public sector fraud, PSFA affords those who work with us unrivalled access to Ministers in an area that is rapidly rising to the forefront of the Government's agenda. With an ever-expanding remit in an arena of growing ministerial priority, now is a truly exciting time to join a team that has an impact throughout the machinery of government.

This is an exciting role as Strategy and Business Analytics Lead, as part of the NFI team. The role is pivotal in ensuring that the PSFA meets its commitments to deliver counter-fraud outcomes through data sharing and analytics. The successful candidate will demonstrate a deep, practitioner-level understanding of counter-fraud methodologies and be capable of applying these across complex data-sharing landscapes.

The NFI team manages and delivers the NFI data matching service. This service includes a national data matching exercise to identify fraud and error across a range of public sector datasets, and data pilots to test the effectiveness of processing new and different types of data for fraud.

The team works as part of the PSFA's wider fraud data services team. Structurally, the NFI team is made up of the Operational Delivery (OD) Team and Business Development (BD) Team. This role offers flexibility in location, with a requirement to attend face-to-face meetings across the UK at least 5-10 times per year. This includes Stoke-on-Trent, Manchester, Birmingham and other regional hubs.

The Strategy and Business Analytics Lead will be one of four G7s in the NFI team. The post holder will contribute to the leadership of the NFI and the wellbeing and development of the NFI team. This role will involve line management of at least three other team members.

• Lead on the NFI savings assurance process and audit including engagement with relevant oversight boards and auditors. Manage the review and auditing of reported savings including oversight of the evidence based methodologies used to determine estimated preventative and detected savings for NFI matching. Represent the NFI on the Savings Assurance Board and Prevention Panel as a subject matter expert. Maintain a close working relationship with the NFI BD team, acting as a key link so the boundary between Business Development and Operational Delivery research is clearly defined;
• Lead on delivery of the commercial modelling and framework for NFI (with associated income of £1.5 million - £2 million per year) including designing competitive fee scales/models, delivery of the statutory consultation for the proposed fee scales, working with PSFA colleagues, legal experts and other stakeholders to secure ministerial approval for both pre and post consultation proposals;
• Lead the development and implementation of the National Fraud Initiative strategy and monitoring activity against the strategy, working with NFI G6's, the wider PSFA, Audit Scotland, Audit Wales and the Northern Ireland Audit Office;
• Coordinate the research and development of pilot data match opportunities, utilising existing datasets (managed by the Operational Delivery team), to support the overall NFI pilot pipeline, and act as a bridge to facilitate the transition of successful pilots into sustainable business as usual (BAU) operational delivery.
• Shape and deliver the NFI external stakeholder and user engagement strategies with and through the team and lead on the production of the NFI biennial report;
• Manage the delivery of data analytics for the NFI including overseeing the collating, monitoring and reporting of fraud and error outcomes;
• Work with the PSFA policy team as the policy and legislation lead for the NFI, to further the NFI strategy and requirements across policy and legislation including any future revisions to the Code of Data Matching Practice;
• Represent the NFI as part of the PSFA across Government to deliver on the NFI strategy and support the counter-fraud and data in counter fraud agendas; and
• Support the wider NFI - including governance, reporting, recruitment and learning and development.

Key responsibilities include:

• Leading on the development and implementation of the National Fraud Initiative strategy. Monitoring activity against the strategy and reporting the outcomes internally. Working with the rest of PSFA, Audit Scotland, Audit Wales and the Northern Ireland Audit Office to ensure strategies are aligned
• Leading on the design of robust competitive fee scales and fee models for around 1,000 NFI customers. This requires consideration of operational costs, profit margins and value for money. These fee scales form the basis of the NFI work programme and scale of fees. You will work with the Deputy Director for Data and Analytics, Head of the NFI, legal experts and other PSFA colleagues to secure ministerial approval to consult on the work programme and scale of fees, analyse the consultation responses and conclude the consultation with publication.
• Overseeing the NFI data analytics and reporting of outcomes from the NFI's data matching exercises. This involves carrying out quality and assurance checks on the data that is extracted to ensure accurate figures are presented for internal reporting. Data analytics underpin the outcomes maximisation strategy, ensuring the Operational Delivery Team meets its outcomes target.
• Overseeing the robust assurance processes, as the NFI analyses and reports are subject to internal and external scrutiny. Where actual outcomes are not available this post leads on research and developing evidence based methodologies to determine estimated preventative and detected savings. These are presented for approval by senior leaders and cross government experts.
• In addition to these core responsibilities, the post holder will be expected to support the NFI leadership team on ad-hoc strategic tasks and cross-cutting commissions arising across the full spectrum of the NFI's business activities.

Essential criteria

• Strategic Leadership & Policy: Proven track record in developing and implementing complex strategies and leading on policy/legislation, specifically within a counter-fraud or public sector integrity context. You must demonstrate success in monitoring performance against organisational goals and working with legal teams to ensure compliance and strategic alignment.
• Commercial & Financial Modelling: Expertise in designing robust commercial frameworks and fee models for large-scale public sector services. You must demonstrate experience in developing competitive fee scales that account for operational costs, profit margins, and value for money, and in securing ministerial approval for such models.
• Data Analytics & Counter-Fraud Methodology: Strong data handling and analytical capabilities with proven experience in a counter-fraud or data-matching environment. You must have experience overseeing data quality, designing evidence-based research programmes, and establishing defensible methodologies for savings assurance that withstand internal and external audit scrutiny.
• Governance & Regulatory Compliance: Proven experience in designing and implementing governance frameworks, specifically within a public sector or data-handling context. You must demonstrate a solid understanding of data governance, GDPR compliance, and how these apply to complex data-sharing or counter-fraud programmes.
• Stakeholder Management & Governance: Proven ability to navigate complex political and audit landscapes. You must have experience engaging with senior leaders, Ministers, and cross-government stakeholders (such as Audit Scotland/Wales/NI) to build consensus, manage risk, and represent the organisation as a subject matter expert.
• Operational Delivery & Leadership: Ability to manage varied, high-pressure priorities autonomously and lead teams effectively. This includes overseeing research programmes, managing communications, and driving team development in a fast-paced environment.

Note: Experience of working with Google (Mail, Sheets, Drive, etc.) and Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint) is also required.

Desirable criteria

• A background in designing and / or delivering policy change;
• Project management experience / skills or qualifications
• Experience of working on commercial projects
• Experience of managing/working in a virtual team

The successful candidate must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security check needed is CTC.

Please note that the PSFA (including the National Fraud Initiative) will imminently be moving from the Cabinet Office to the Department for Work and Pensions.

Additional information

Cabinet Office policy is that a minimum 60% of your working time should be spent at your principal workplace. For some roles, due to their nature and the business need, this may be up to 100%. Requirements to attend other locations for official business will also count towards this level of attendance.

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Seeing the Big Picture
• Making Effective Decisions
• Communicating and Influencing

We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:

• technical capability to be tested

• Learning and development tailored to your role.
• An environment with flexible working options.
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity.
• A Civil Service Pension which provides an attractive pension, benefits for dependants and employer contributions of 28.97%.
• A minimum of 25 days of paid annual leave, increasing by one day per year up to a maximum of 30.

Job contact :

• Name : Ricky Reed-Killick
• Email : ricky.reed-killick1@cabinetoffice.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : cabinetofficerecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk

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